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INFORMATIVEDRAFTprotocol

Protocol Versioning — Conceptual Overview

Audience: Implementers, Architects Governance Rule: DGP-30

1. What Protocol Versioning Refers To

Protocol Versioning in MPLP refers to the compatibility dimension that concerns how protocol versions evolve and how implementations declare version support.

Protocol Versioning is not a migration tool. It is a conceptual area for version semantics.

2. Conceptual Areas Covered by Protocol Versioning

Conceptual AreaDescription
Metadata VersionRelates to protocol_version field in all objects
Schema VersioningConcerns $id URIs and schema evolution
Freeze StatusIs involved in immutability guarantees
Backward CompatibilityRelates to breaking vs. non-breaking changes

3. What Protocol Versioning Does NOT Do

  • ❌ Define migration scripts
  • ❌ Mandate upgrade paths
  • ❌ Prescribe version negotiation protocols

4. Where Normative Semantics Are Defined

Normative SourceWhat It Covers
Metadata Schema (metadata.schema.json)protocol_version, schema_version
Schema ConventionsVersion compatibility rules
x-mplp-metaMachine-readable freeze status

5. MPLP v1.0 Version Status

  • Protocol Version: 1.0.0
  • Freeze Date: 2025-12-03
  • Status: FROZEN (no breaking changes)

Governance Rule: DGP-30 See Also: Protocol Versioning Anchor (Normative)